Barking-mill.



W. A. WHITGOMB.

BARKING MILL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8,1914. 1,120,636. Patented Dec. 8,1914.

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W. A. WHlTCOMB.

BARKING MILL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1914.

1,1 20,636. Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

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WILLIAM A. WHITCOMB, OF MILLINOCKET, MAINE.

EARRING-HILL.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application filed May 8, 1914. Serial No. 837,327.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. WHIT- com, acitizen of the United States, residing at Millinocket, in the county ofPenobscot and State of Maine, have invented an Improvement inBarking-Mills, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to barking-mills for removing bark from logs orblocks of wood, which are used in the production of pulp in themanufacture of paper, and is an improvement upon the barking-millforming the subject-matter of an application for Letters Patent--#802,586, filed November 24 1913, of Garret Schenck. in the machine 0said application the blocks of wood are tumbled while in a dry state,and by the tumblin action the bark is removed from the bloc s, andduring the tumbling operation the detached dry bark is-segregated fromthe blocks by gravity. Said machine is a wide step in advance over priorme.- chines of this character, and has resulted in a substantial savinin the expense of preparing the blocks or the grinders, and the wood isnot chipped, scraped or cut ofi of the block, and the bark, which isremoved is in a dry state and has a value for fuel. In some instancesthe blocks are smeared with dirt and sometimes small pieces or patchesof bark still cling to the blocks which it is desirable to remove, andsometimes the bark which has been removed sticks to the blocks, and Ihave discovered that b washin the debarked or substantially de arkedblocks with water the dirt and loose pieces of the bark may be removed,and the blocks thus better and more completely prepared for presentationto the grinders.

This invention has for its object the provision of means for washin theblocks after the have been debarke or substantially de arked by theapparatus of the aforesaid application and the association of said meanswith said apparatus whereby.the operation of debarking'and of washingbecomes a continuous one.

M invention, in so far as its method is invo ved, consists in debarka'ngthe blocks while in a d state b a tumbling action, segregating te detaced bark from the blocks by gravity during the debarlsing or tumblinoperation, and then waslnn the debarlred or substantially'debarked bocks,

the entire operation being a continuous one.

One form of apparatus by which the present invention is carried out,which is here shown for illustration, comprises a rotatabletumbling-chamber arranged in a slightly inclined position into which theblocks are delivered at one end and from which they are discharged atthe other end, said chamber having 0 enings at intervals to admit of theescape oi the detached pieces of bark, which are segregated from theblocks and caused to escape by gravity, and another rotatabletumbling-chamber arranged in continuation of' the aforesaid chamber atthe discharge end thereof, into which the blocks are delivered at oneend and from which they are discharged at the other end, said chamberbeing artiallv submerged in a tank of water, so t at the blocks aretumbled in the presence of water, and the dirt and the small pieces ofbark are removed, thus cleansing the blocks and preparing them in thebest possible condition for presentation to the grinders, the a paratusbeing constructed and arrange in such manner that the entire operationis a continuous one.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a barkingmill embodyin this invention.Fig. 2 is a left-hand end e evation of the same. Fig. 3 is a transversevertical section through the wet tumbling-chamber. Figs. 4 and 5 areplan and sectional views of a portion of the mill, illustrating thepreferred form of driving-means for the wet tumbling-chamber. Figs. 6and 7 are plan and sectional views of a like portion of the mill,illustrating another modified form of drivingmeans for the wettumbling-chamber.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1, the drytumbling-chamber and the opcratin means are substantially as shown inthe a oresaid application, and consists of three cylindricalpipe-sections 10, 12 and 14:, although an other number may be employed.Eac section may be composed of several short cylindrical sections ofpipe, telescopically arranged and secured together, or they may beotherwise constructed. The several pine-sections 10, 12 and 14 arearranged in alinement to enable the blocks to move from one to the nextsection throughout the entire len h of the dry tumbling-chamber and saisections are arran ed in a slightly inclined position to faci itate suchmovement of the locks, and they are separated from each other shortdistances to provide annular openings for the escape of the dry ieces ofbark which are removed from the locks, but it will be obvious thatopenings may be otherwise formed at intervals for this purpose. Theinterior of the pipe-sections are preferably made smooth, which admitsof the blocks being easily moved along in a direction toward the exit,and prevents clogging of theblocks and chipping of the wood. In said drychamber, as represented'in Fig. 1, the right-hand end thereof is theinlet, and at said end-an annular plate 18 is secured having acenter-hole 20, through which the wood blocks are fed in. Said platepartially closes the end of the pipe-section to which it is attached,and serves as a retainingplate for the blocks.

The left-hand end of the dry-chamber is the exit and at said end anannular plate 22 is provided, having a center-hole 24 through which thewood blocks are discharged. Said plate partially closes the end of thepipe section to which it is attached, and serves as a retaining-platefor the blocks. Said plate 22 is not attached directly to the end of thepipe-section as is the plate 18, but is supported in fixed position infront of said pipe-section by brackets 26, thereby providing an openingbetween the end of the pipesec tion and the plate for the escape of thepieces. of dry bark, said opening being substantiall the same as theopenings efore describe which are arranged at intervals along thechamber. Each pipe-section has arranged on its circumference flangedrings 30, there being two such rings shown on each pipe-section whichare arranged in parallel relation, and disposed near the ends of thesections, and said rings rest upon flanged rollers 32 secured to shafts33, which are positively rotated. The weight of the pipesections,particularlv when loaded with the wood blocks, is sufiicient to enablethem to be rotated by frictional engagement with the rotating rolls,although in lieu of friction gearing such as described any other form ofgearing may be employed for rotatin the pipe-sections. As here shown, itwill be noted that the pipe-sections are made independent of each otherand are, therefore, independently rotatable, but ordinarily they will berotated in unison, as they are rotated b means common to all of them,but indepen ent rotation of the sections, instead of being adisadvantage, is an advan tage as the blocks which extend across theopenings are so interlocked with other blocks in the secti ns that indeendent movement of one section relative tot eother will accelerate thetumbling of the blocks.

At the discharge end of the dry tumblingchamber the Wet tumbling-chamberis arranged, it being made as a pipe-section 40 composed of severalshort cylindrical sections of pipe telescopically arranged and sehavingleft-hand end is the outlet, and the inlet is arranged in front of theoutlet of the last section of the dry tumbling-chamber to re ceive thedebarked or substantiall debarked blocks which emerge from sai chamber.At the left-hand end of the wet tumblingchamber an annular plate d1 isprovided a center-hole 42 with a lon 'tudinall extended flange eathereat." Sai pipesectlon 40 has arranged on its circumference flangedrings 45, 46, there being two such rings here shown, which are arrangedin parallel relation and disposed near the ends of the section and restu on flanged rollers 47 secured to shafts t8 w ich are positivelyrotated. The weight of the section, partic larl whgn loaded with blocks,is usually su cient to enable it to be rotated by frictional engagementwith the rotating rolls, but in lieu of friction gearing such asdescribed, other forms of gearing may be employed, as represented forinstance in Figs. 4 to 7, and should be so employed if any trouble fromslipping arises. Said pipesection 40 is arranged in a tank 50 which isarranged to be supplied with water by a pipe 51 or other means to apredetermined level, and has an outlet at 52 and when thus arranged insaid tank it is partially 'submerged so that the blocks at the bottomthereof are tumbled in the water. Atthe outlet of the wettumbling-chamber a conveyer is here shown at 60, which receives upon itthe washed blocks and b which they are carried up a chute for de iveryto any desired place or laces, as for instance, they may be delivere toa room containing the grinders, or may be delivered to a room containinga splitter, or may be delivered no elsewhere.

From the general description above, it will be understood that many ofthe struc tural features of the apparatus may be altered withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a sprocket-chain drivingmeans is illustrated which Ihave found effective, and in Figs. 6 and 7 a. toothed gear driving-meansis illustrated, these methods being among the many which may be employedin lieu of frictional gearing shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

The operation of the mill is as follows: While the tumbling-chamber isrotating the wood' blocks are fed in through the centerhole in theretaining-plate at the upper end and are caused to tnmble--overanduponeach other, and against the wall of the chamber and to move along tothe lower end thereof, where they are discharged through the center-holein the retainingplate thereat, and while being tumbled and moved alonthe bark is removed in a dry state from t em, and the pieces of dry barkfall by gravity through the openings, being thus segregated from theblocks. The dry debarked or substantially debarked blocks then passcontinuously from the dry tumbling-chamber to the wet tumbling-chamber,whereupon they are caused to tumble over and upon each other and againstthe wall of the chamber and to move along to the outlet end thereof tobe discharged upon a conveyer and while tumbled about in said wettumbling-chamber they are washed and cleansed.

I claim 1. The process herein described of debarking blocks whichconsists in removing the bark from the blocks while in a dry state by atumbling action, segregating the detached bark from the blocks bygravity, during the debarking operation, and washing and therebycleaning the debarked or substantially debarked blocks, the entire operation being continuous.

2. The process herein described of debarking blocks which consists insubjecting the blocks while in a dry state to a tumbling action, therebyto remove the bark therefrom,-and segregating the detached bark from theblocks by gravity at intervals duringthe tumbling action, then furtherremoving the bark from the blocks in the presence of water by a tumblingaction and segregating the bark thus detached from the blocks, theentire operation being continuous.

3. A barking-mill consistingof a rotatable dry tumbling-chamber arrangedto receive and tumble the blocks in a dry state,

and a rotatable wet tumbling-chamber located at the discharge end ofsaid dry chamber in continuation thereof and arranged to receive andtumble the blocks in a wet state. substantially as described.

4. A barking-mill consisting of a rotatable dry tumbling-chamberarranged to receive and tumble the blocks in a dry state and havingopenings for the escape of the dr) bark, and a rotatable wettumblingcliamber located at the discharge end of said dry chamber incontinuation thereof and arranged to receive and tumble the blocks in awet state. substantially as described.

.3. .X barking-mill consisting of a rotatable dry tumbling-chamberarranged to re ceive and tumble the blocks in a dry state and havingopenings for the escape of the dry bark. and another rotatabletumblingchainber located at the discharge end of said dry chamber incontinuation thereof, and a tank for containing water in which I saidchamber is partially submerged, said chamber being arranged to receiveand tum ble the blocks in a wet state, and means arranged to provide forthe supply and escape of water to and from said tank, substantially asdescribed.

6. A barking-mill consisting of a rotatable dry tumbling-chamberarranged to receive and tumble the blocks in a dry state and havingopenings for the escape of the dry bark, and another rotatabletumblingchamber located at the discharge end of said dry chamber incontinuation thereof, and a tank for containing water in which saidchamber is partially submerged, said chamber being arranged to receiveand tumble the blocks in a wet state, and frictional drivingmeansco-extensive with all said chambers for rotating them and permittingindependent rotation thereof, substantially as described.

7. In a barking-mill, the combination of a plurality of cylindricalopen-ended rotatable pipe-sections arranged in alinement and in aslightly inclined position having open spaces arranged at intervals, andanother open-ended rotatable pipe section arranged at the discharge endof the aforesaid pipesections, a tank for containing water in which saidlast-named pipe-section is partially submerged, and driving means forthe sections, substantially as described.

8. In a barking-mill, the combination of a plurality of openendedpipe-sections ar ranged in alinement and in a slightly inclinedposition, separated from each other short distances to provide open saces between them, and another open-en ed pipesection arranged at thedischarge end of the aforesaid pipe-section, a tank for containing waterin which said pipe-section is partially submerged, and a commondriving-means to rotate all said sections, with which they arefrictionally connected, permitting independent rotation thereof,substantially as described.

9. In a barking-mill, the combination of a plurality of open-endedpipe-sections an ranged in alinement and in a slightly inclined positionand separated fromeach other to provide open spaces between them, andanother open-ended pi pe-section arranged at the discharge end of theaforesaid pipe-sec tion, and at a lower elevation, a tank for containingwater in which said last'named pipe-section is partially submerged, anddriving means for said sections, substantially as described.

10. A barking-mill consisting of a rotatable dry tumbling-chamberarranged to receive and tumble the blocks in a dry state, and having atits exit an annular retainingmember, and a discharge opening immediatelyin rear thereof, a rotatable wet tumbling-chamber located at thedischarge end of said dry-chamber, but at a lower eleva- 1,12o,ese

tion, a tank containing water in which said name to this specification,in the presence of last-named tumbling-chamber is partially twosubscribing witnesses.

submerged, over the top of which said annum w lar retaining-memberextends, and driving- WILLIAM ITCOMB' 5 means for said chambers,substantially as Witnesses:

described. WILLIAM O. Meir, In testimony whereof, I have signed my GuyCUNNINGHAM.

